Impairment of renal steroidogenesis at the onset of diabetes

Accumulating evidence indicates the association between changes in circulating sex steroid hormone levels and development of diabetic nephropathy. However, renal synthesis hormones during diabetes is essentially unknown. Male Wistar rats were injected with streptozotocin (STZ) or vehicle. After one week, no functional structural parameters related to kidney damage observed STZ group; however, a higher expression proinflammatory cytokines HSP70 was found. Expression Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory protein (StAR) P450scc (CYP11A1) decreased kidneys. Incubation isolated mitochondria 22R-hydroxycholesterol revealed marked inhibition CYP11A1 function at medullary level group. The these first steps steroidogenesis early STZ-induced led local pregnenolone progesterone. These findings stimulate investigation probable role nephrosteroids associated diabetes.